Despite claims to contrary, more guns means less crime

Maryland Public Television broadcast a dangerously mythical view of gun violence in the evening of Feb. 19. This program was designed to create emotion rather than a complete connection with reality. For example, it continued the myth that the Second Amendment is solely about militias. It is not per Justice Scalia’s opinion of the U.S. Supreme Court in Heller v. District of Columbia. Scalia uses 64 pages to analyze the 27 words of the Second Amendment. These above reproach arguments dismissed the militia clause as having no restriction of “keep and bear arms.”

The myths continued with the increasing mass killings in schools. The substantial increase began with Federal Gun Free School Zone Act, which proclaims that here in the schools are defenseless victims to use to make society pay for some slight that a mentally ill shooter uses as his act of revenge. You don’t see these crazies shooting up a police station because they are not stupid, just nuts. By the way, the 1996 Gun Free School Zone Act is nearly as unconstitutional as the 1990 Gun Free Zone Act per the opinion and concurrences in the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in U.S. v. Lopez, since the 1996 act does not overcome those objections in that ruling. Maybe a court decision will make schools safer again by killing a liberal myth.

The urban violence is significant in cities that do not prosecute gun laws. For example, the NRA efforts with Richmond, Va., authorities reduced crime putting shooters and illegal gun possession in jail. Indeed, the 2010 Instant Check refused 72 thousand gun transactions, but only 25 were ever prosecuted. Perhaps, the government wants gun violence.

Women in a Florida city suffered 33 rapes in nine months. The women decided that they would not be victims. Soon 6,000 women were armed. In a later nine-month period only three were raped. As John Lott researched and concluded (More Guns = Less Crime.) Indeed, Florida has lowered crime rates with armed citizens.

Curiously, the states that have the highest Brady scores also have the highest crime rates and the states with the lowest Brady scores have the lowest crime rates. This is a counterexample that gun-controllers ignore because it defeats their myths. For example, Chicago, with its strict gun laws, is the current murder capitol of the nation.

The whole gun control scheme depends upon police protection. But the authors, incapable of thinking ahead, don’t seem to realize that the police do not have a duty, per numerous court cases, to protect individuals unless a special relationship has been established. Calling 911 is not sufficient. So when seconds count, the police are only minutes away – maybe.

I have lived long enough to have experienced the decline of American society starting in the 60’s with such advice as “If it feels good, do it. If it doesn’t feel good, don’t!” So much for responsibility and respect.